Area students are using their unique skills and interests to make a difference. In this changing world, a community finds strength in the...
Community
Balloon on the River
Karen Schulz was on a boat ride on the St. Croix River last summer with her husband when they came across several hot air balloons. “Trying to take...
North Hill’s Annual Root Beer Float Social Grows Community
Neighbors gather in Stillwater's North Hill neighborhood for an annual social. When Amy and Aaron Sonnek began their house search, they envisioned a...
The Passport Club Fosters Real-World Connections
Stillwater educator Bob Manning brings alternative enrichment programs to students. Bob Manning has spent decades helping students connect classroom...
The Growing Kindness Project Is Blooming
Stillwater resident Amy Sonnek was feeling disconnected from her community during COVID-19 when she found an opportunity to bloom. “I was searching...
Little Moments Count
In the St. Croix Valley, a quiet revolution is underway—one bedtime story, lullaby and belly laugh at a time. The Little Moments Count initiative,...
Explore Your Best of St. Croix Valley 2025 Winners
Say hello to summertime and the results of our Readers’ Choice Poll. Summer is here, and you know what that means … we’re thrilled to congratulate...
Over the River and Into the Northwoods
Discover new adventures in western Wisconsin. When I moved to Polk County in 2021, I was hesitant. While I loved the idea of my tiny abode in rural...
Get Hooked on Fishing on the St. Croix River
Area guide Ryan Bunnell offers advice for fishing in the Valley. Fishing is the quintessential year-round sport for many Midwesterners. And when it...
Mrs. Minnesota Uses Her Platform for TBI Awareness
Experiences with traumatic brain injuries motivate Alissa Staloch’s activism. Minnesota had a special spokesperson this past year. Alissa Staloch...
DJ and Teacher J.T. Tasch Brings His Artistry to the Classroom
J.T. Tasch has been teaching at Stillwater’s Rutherford Elementary for 23 years (mostly fifth-grade math) and has zero desire to slow down. “I love...
Lens on St. Croix Valley 2025 Is Now Open for Submissions
Our annual photo contest is a few clicks away. Each year, we invite readers to share fresh perspectives of the Valley through our annual Lens on St....
Meet Wild River State Park’s Artist in Residence
Discover how JG Everest uses sound to create engaging and interactive art experiences in nature. A walk through the woods reveals a natural...
Angie Hong Sends Us to the River to Experience Its Beauty
Author and environmental educator Angie Hong sends us to the watershed for ephemeral explorations. Angie Hong is an environmental educator who has...
Stillwater Local Leads Susan G. Komen in Minnesota
Stillwater’s Alicia Gordon Macalus leads Susan G. Komen in Minnesota. According to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, somewhere in this world, a...
Nature’s Radiant Pause
An award-winning image showcases an orchard oriole in spring. “Every spring, I visit my favorite birding spot near New Richmond, [Wisconsin], where...
Announcing the Best of St. Croix Valley 2025 Finalists
We invited readers to vote for the best the St. Croix Valley area has to offer throughout January in our annual readers’ poll. The poll is now...
Meet Dianne Polasik
After Dianne Polasik earned a nursing degree from the University of Iowa, she says she came to Minnesota, “saw all those lakes, and stayed.” That...
Inside the Costume Shop at The Phipps
At the heart of all things costuming at The Phipps Center for the Arts (PCA) is Bridget Lentz, our costume shop manager. With a love for costumes...
Frosty Sunrise
A hobby photographer captures winter magic on a sunrise stroll along the St. Croix River. Nikkita Berglind, of River Falls, Wisconsin, was walking...
